Water Safety After a Flood

Floodwaters

There is risk of disease from eating or drinking anything contaminated with floodwater.

Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas, wash children's hands frequently (always before meals), and do not allow children to play with floodwater contaminated toys that have not been disinfected.

Keep open cuts and sores as clean as possible by washing well with soap. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.

Public Water Systems

If you are on a Public Water System (PWS), your municipality, water utility, or system owner will notify you of any unsafe drinking water conditions in the system and provide directions on what you can do to prevent exposure.

For issues concerning your home’s water system including quality of water, drainage, and retention concerns, or sewage back-up, contact your home’s city or MUD operator.

Private Water Well Systems

Private drinking water wells in flooded areas should always be considered contaminated. If your well or the area around it was flooded:

STOP USING THE WATER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND CONTACT.

Use only bottled or boiled water as an alternative source for drinking, cooking (including washing food you eat raw), and bathing until you can disinfect your well and have a sample tested.

Visit the Public Health Preparedness website for more information on steps to protect your health and disinfect your private well fbchealth.org

The Texas Department of Insurance has advice on what to do if your home or auto was damaged by Harvey, the insurance claims process and contractor fraud prevention and have extended their call center hours to 8 p.m. — 1-800-252-3439 or click here.